English Reference

Word

folk

US/ˈfoʊk/

UK/fˈəʊk/

Definitions

01people in general

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal

n. people in general, or a specific group of people.

n. people in general or a specific collective group. Often used in the plural 'folks' as a friendly or informal address.

“The local folks are very friendly to tourists who visit the village.”

“The town meeting was packed with local folks eager to voice their concerns about the proposed highway expansion.”

02family members

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal

n. your family, especially your parents.

n. one's relatives, specifically one's parents. Almost exclusively used in the plural form.

“I am going back home this weekend to visit my folks.”

“After living abroad for a decade, he found it difficult to adjust to the quiet lifestyle of his folks back in the countryside.”

Synonyms

03folk music

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Music

n. traditional music from a particular country or region.

n. traditional music originating among the common people of a nation or region, typically transmitted orally.

“The festival features a mix of modern rock and traditional folk.”

“The singer-songwriter drew heavy inspiration from Appalachian folk, blending acoustic guitar with haunting, traditional melodies.”

Synonyms

traditional music

Antonyms

04traditional or regional

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. relating to the traditional culture, art, or stories of ordinary people.

adj. pertaining to the traditional beliefs, customs, and culture of the common people.

“She loves collecting folk art from the different countries she visits.”

“The museum's collection of folk costumes provides a fascinating glimpse into the regional identities of the nineteenth century.”

Antonyms

05vernacular architecture

C1 · Advanced Architecture Technical

adj. relating to buildings made with local materials and traditional styles.

adj. relating to traditional architecture using local materials and styles, often without a professional architect.

“The village is famous for its folk architecture and stone cottages.”

“The preservation society aims to protect examples of folk architecture that demonstrate how early settlers adapted to the harsh climate.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “folk” in context.

Verb

01. visit your folk

“Are you going back to your hometown to visit your folk this Christmas?”

verb + possessive + noun

Adjective

02. country folk

“Country folk often have a different pace of life compared to people in the city.”

adj + noun

03. local folk

“The local folk were very welcoming to the tourists who visited the village.”

adj + noun

04. old folk

“There is a community center in town that organizes activities for old folk.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. folk dance

“The children learned a traditional folk dance for the school festival.”

noun + noun

06. folk music

“We spent the evening listening to traditional folk music by the campfire.”

noun + noun

07. folk tale

“My grandmother used to tell me a famous folk tale about a clever rabbit.”

noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English folk, from Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic folk, from Proto-Germanic fulką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European pl̥h₁-gós, from pleh₁- (“to fill”). Cognate with German Volk, Dutch volk, Swedish folk and Danish folk. Doublet of volk.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

Idioms

Domains

ArchitectureMusic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference